Meditation Room at Central Presbyterian Church
If your life is lacking focus, direction and purpose you will find the discipline of meditation most helpful. If you are seeking a clearer understanding of yourself and a deeper relationship with God I believe you will come to see meditation as important as the breath we breathe. If you are simply looking for a group of folks to join with in prayer then come to the quiet peace of our Meditation Room.
As an introduction let me say that, for me, meditation is way of bringing our minds home and thus being able to live our lives in more mindful way. I like the way Joseph Goldstein puts it, "Meditation has to do with opening what is closed in us, balancing what is reactive, and exploring and investigating what is hidden. That is the way of practice. We practice to open, to balance, and to explore."
The Meditation Room is located on the second floor landing in what has been known as the parlor I have also attached the "Guidelines for Using our Meditation Room." Please remember that the Meditation Room will be available for anyone's use during working hours or when the church is open for larger events.
Guidelines for Using our Meditation Room
Why is this room different?
There is freedom in this room to be you, to express yourself using all forms of creativity. Meditation is about pressing into God, standing in the gap for those who cannot stand for themselves or just being with the God who is in us all.
This is not just a nice room but a holy place so please respect it in that way. We would advise you to take off your shoes. This is not a compulsory rule - just a good discipline! There is also a desk for your personal use where you might write or journal. A card file is provided for you to add and use phrases on which to meditate. There is a growing library. Please feel free to take out anything only please remember to return them when you are through so that others might benefit from them as well. We would suggest that you not use this room for study there are other places for that. Please feel free to use the couch, sprawl out on the floor, use the cushions or just pace up and down. This is your time to be with the Lord so be yourself, always mindful of others.
What is that on the walls?
The walls are for you to record what God is saying to you, to write out encouraging and challenging scripture. To write divine, cool quotes poetry and to create Holy Spirit inspired art work. Let there be no limit to your expression of love for God. When you feel yourself slipping - read the walls!
Why the altar?
This is a New Testament altar based on the scriptures in Romans 12:1-2. "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - God's good, pleasing, and perfect will."
It is a place at the foot of the cross for you to lay down parts of your life that need to go. This can be painful, but obedience is a long term investment that will lead to life in its fullness.
Why the stereo?
Use this as a worshipping instrument. A head set is provided for your personal use while the Meditation Room is in use by others. Please feel free to add to the growing CD library.
Why the cushions?
So often in scripture we learn that the people sat at the feet of Jesus to learn of his wisdom. We join the disciples from all ages at that place of honor.
P.S. When entering the Meditation Room please turn the sign outside the door to the "in use" side. Blessings!